Celebrating a Decade of Digital Transformation in India
The celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Digital India initiative marked a significant milestone in the nation’s journey toward digital empowerment. Held at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi, the event showcased the transformative impact of digital technologies across the country. The occasion was attended by prominent figures, including Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, and Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology.
A Vision Realized
Ashwini Vaishnaw, who inaugurated the program as the Chief Guest, emphasized the achievements of Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) in delivering the benefits of Digital India to every citizen. He highlighted how VLEs have overcome initial skepticism and demonstrated the potential of digital payments, with UPI transactions surpassing those of Visa. “This is the strength of 1.4 billion Indians,” he said.
Vaishnaw also pointed out that CSC has reached nearly 90% of the country’s villages, stating that no other medium could match this reach. He shared inspiring stories of VLEs like Manjulata from Mayurbhanj and Rose Angelina from Meghalaya, who have become beacons of digital transformation in their communities.
Key Announcements and Future Directions
During the event, several key announcements were made. These included free AI training for 10 lakh individuals, with priority given to VLEs. The minister also urged all VLEs to start offering IRCTC services and committed to engaging with Chief Ministers to integrate state IT agencies with CSC-SPV.
Jitin Prasada, the Union MoS, highlighted the role of CSCs in bridging the digital divide. He noted that the number of CSC centres has grown from 83,000 in 2014 to nearly 5.50 lakh today. He emphasized the importance of integrating Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) with CSCs and acknowledged the contributions of over 74,000 women VLEs.
Prasada also stressed the need to strengthen awareness, cybersecurity, and capacity building, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, health, and education. He recommended allowing VLEs to deliver Update Client Lite and state government services to enhance their income.
A Model of Inclusion and Empowerment
Sanjay Rakesh, Managing Director & CEO of CSC SPV, welcomed the dignitaries and spoke about the impact of CSCs. He stated that there is no need to visit cities to access government services, as CSC centres provide G2C and B2B services at doorsteps in remote areas. Over the past decade, CSC has emerged as a model of Digital India, representing a new paradigm of inclusion and empowerment.
National Celebrations and Achievements
CSC Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm across the nation. In Delhi, a two-day celebration was held on July 15-16, 2025. On July 15, IT Secretaries from all states convened at Bharat Mandapam to discuss rural empowerment, the future of e-governance, and the role of CSCs.
Between July 1 and 15, CSCs across the country celebrated the occasion with active public participation. Top-performing VLEs were felicitated for their outstanding contributions to advancing digital inclusion.
The Digital India Initiative
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, the Digital India program aimed to make technology accessible to every Indian. Over the decade (2015-2025), the initiative has bridged the digital divide and transformed governance, financial inclusion, and internet accessibility, making India the world’s third-largest digital economy.
CSC SPV, established in 2009 under MeitY, has emerged as one of the world’s largest digital service delivery ecosystems, with over 5.5 lakh operational centres. Each CSC is operated by a Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE), a local changemaker who provides citizen-centric services including Aadhaar enrollment and updates, PAN card and passport services, Banking and insurance, Telemedicine and education services, Skill development and legal aid through Tele-Law and Agriculture services, Grameen eStore (B2B), utility bill payments, and more.